US Features
Homosexuals show colours at White House Easter events
By Klaus Marre Apr 18, 2006, 2:33 GMT
Washington - Same-sex families flocked to the White House on Monday for the traditional Easter egg roll and to show that they, too, are a part of US society.
Dozens of homosexual families literally showed their colours by wearing rainbow-coloured garlands at the event, which allows thousands of children onto the White House grounds for Easter fun.
Many of the 16,000 tickets were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and some people stood in line through the night to get in.
Gay parents said their participation was meant not as a protest, but to show that they are part of American life.
'It is a wonderful and important display of the reality of gay and lesbian American families,' said Cathy Renna, a lesbian parent from New York, while waiting to enter the White House grounds.
President George W. Bush, who has expressed support for a US constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, kicked off an event that this year had a decidedly political flavour.
Despite Bush's position, the White House made clear that all families were welcome at the traditional egg roll. First held in 1878, the event includes children using spoons to roll eggs on the lawn in a race.
Though same-sex families have fewer rights than traditional families, the egg roll shows they have 'a lot more in common with other families' than people realize, Renna said.
Homosexual parents insisted that marriage is about love, not sexual orientation, and they proudly pointed to their children happily mingling with others.
First Lady Laura Bush called the event the 'happiest of traditions at the White House' and urged everyone to have 'a great time.'
'I want to thank all of the children here today, who brought their parents with them,' she said in her opening remarks.
Kyle Turner, who participated with his partner and their daughter Emma, said he was happy because the event was so 'normal.'
The visibility of the homosexual families, some of which had travelled thousands of miles to participate, did not bother other guests.
'Kids are kids,' said Steve Shur, who attended the event with his wife and children. 'They don't know the difference.'
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Yes, the people who had the nerve to protest people loving their children and sharing in a happy event represent the very worst in American culture.
~I do not believe that going to the egg roll was a political protest, it was merely showing that families are families even if the kids have two moms, and taking part in something that many straight families take for granted.
~I do agree, however that the egg roll should not be a political event, rather a time to allow kids to enjoy themselves.
~If families with gay parents wish to participate, I believe they should, and do so openly, and the 'gay factor' need not be a big deal. If parents have issues being in a place where their children could somehow be 'perverted,' they should either get over it for the sake of their children, who likely don't care, or just not go. Though, in reality, everyone knows gay people, so it should not be a big deal.
I hope christine was referring not to the homosexuals present as protestors but to others who protested their presence there. If they wish to wear rainbows, for whatever reason, it's a free country. If I'd gone I might've worn one of the t-shirts I got serving in the military, it doesn't mean anything other than I'm proud of who I am. Congrats to the homosexuals who wanted to show that they're humans too and can celebrate religious holidays like the rest of us. If nothing else, I'm sure the VP would have felt right at home.
Everyone who went to the Easter activities, did not need to symblolize with colored lei's of being gay/lesbian, but should have gone for the childrens sake, the majority of the event goers would have known or not - its a childrens event! a family event! no matter what anyone is... And hope next year everyone is just being themselves and enjoying being a family.
For those jumping to conclusions, I was referring to the PROTESTORS. You know, the people protesting the presence of homosexuals there? Do some more reading on other sites. I've seen references to up to six protestors there, with signs, apparently standing outside the gates using megaphones to chant 'Homo sex is a sin' Some of these people flew in from other states JUST to protest the presence of gays at this event.
does any think gay & lesbian parents have serious consequence to young minds?
selah
I think the egg roll was a great idea,who cares about weather your gay or not it was for the children,I would have loved to have took my little girl there she would have have had a blast!!
Anyone foolish enough to think that gay couples came to this event purely for their children's enjoyment must be suffering serious cluelessness. If the childrens enjoyment was the purpose, why then did they insist on wareing 'rainbow-coloured garlands' to the event to identify themselves as homosexuals? Clearly another gay agenda attempt to gain publicity for their sexual choices and they used their children as pawns. They will stop at nothing to force their sexual choices down the throats of main stream America. Shame on them.
so i gues any blacks or hispanics that attended also were trying to force their filthy rap music or immigrant amnesty policies down the throats of mainstream (white) america. whether you know it or not folks, the numbers are there, and the odds are whether you know it or not, you know a homosexual. They work next to us, some openly, some not, they serve in our military, our courts, our police, our ambulances, our hospitals, our restaurants, and everywhere else. of course there are extremeists in their camp (as there are in every other camp) who take things too far; but simply being there and trying to show that they exist, they're not going away, and that perhaps we should think of them as just another human being sharing our air, that is not a bad thing. It's amazing how talking with someone you might have wanted to hate based on their appearance or beliefs can be a very rewarding experience, while assuming someone is a good person based on what they choose to show you outwardly, is almost always disillusionment waiting to happen. noone lives in a vacuum.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! GAYS! I'LL NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE AGAIN!
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kathyApr 18th, 2006 - 03:22:22
It is fine to participate as a family, whatever form that family takes. My problem was that it seemed there were people who wanted to make a childs event into a political demonstation. Such a shame.
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